Acidanthera is a beautiful relative of gladiolus with delicate flowers and delicate aroma. The plant belongs to the Kasatikov family. His homeland is tropical Africa. The name of the plant is translated from Greek as "sharp flower", which is explained by the shape of the petals. Acidanthera is also popularly called "fragrant or wintering gladiolus." The plants are indeed similar, but the exotic beauty has a special charm. Flowering is very beautiful, so the acidist should definitely allocate a place in the flower garden, and, possibly, a whole flower bed. After all, she is especially good in group landings. Then the lawn is covered with green foliage, above which quivering multi-colored moths soar.
Botanical Description
Acidanthera is a perennial herb. Rhizome is represented by small oblong corms. Their diameter is on average 5 cm. The white core is hidden under brown mesh scales. Dark green linear leaves have smooth edges and a glossy surface. Most foliage is concentrated at the base of the stem and only a few leaf blades are located on the shoot itself.
A smooth stem can grow 1-2 meters high. Its top is crowned with beautiful large flowers collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence. Each bud is attached to the shoot by a long, curved tube. From it, 6 wide-open petals bloom. The diameter of the corolla reaches 7-12 cm. Petals are painted in white, yellow, pink. They can be plain or colorful.
The flowering period begins in August-September and lasts until the first frosts. At this time, the air is filled with a pleasant aroma. It vaguely resembles the smell of daffodils with honey and fruit notes. After pollination, the fruit ripens in the form of an elongated seed box with many small, rough seeds.
Popular varieties
In nature, there are about 40 types of acidants. Most common Acidantera bicolor or gladiolus muriel. The flower grows 90-100 cm in height. The base of the stem is covered by a rosette of dark green linear leaves 40-50 cm long. Spike-shaped inflorescences consist of 3-8 buds. The main tone of the petals is white or light pink. At the core there is a small black-red star-shaped spot. The diameter of the flower reaches 12 cm.
Acidantera is tropical. The plant grows 110-130 cm in height. Ribbed long leaves are painted dark green. On a bilateral inflorescence with 5-6 buds, white flowers with a diameter of 10-12 cm are located. The petals are decorated with raspberry and purple spots.
Acidanthera white (white). The plant has a straight stem, also covered with leaves. Snow-white flowers bloom at the top of the shoot without an additional pattern. They exude an intense aroma.
Acidanthera is malignant. The variety is characterized by narrower and thinner foliage. Subtle drooping stalks carry beautiful flowers with white-purple petals.
Acidanthera is short tubular. Above the rosette of long leaves, straight peduncles bloom with 3-4 buds. The attention is drawn to the bright petals, which are painted in rich purple-purple hues.
Reproduction Acidanthera
Acidanthera propagates by bulbs and seeds. During the season, several children are formed near the mother's bulb. With proper care, they have time to mature and can develop independently. In the spring, children are separated and planted in soil to a depth of 6-8 cm. From this moment, care for them does not differ.
Seeds can be collected in the fall or bought at a flower shop. Crops for seedlings are produced in mid-February. Garden soil is added to the tank with the addition of peat and sand. It is advisable to calcine the soil in the oven to get rid of bacteria and parasites. Seeds are evenly distributed on the surface and sprinkled with a small layer of soil. The surface is sprayed from the spray gun and covered with a film. The soil should always be slightly moist. The pot is kept at a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° C. Shoots appear together within 2-3 weeks.
The grown seedlings dive into separate pots. They will grow in them for 2-3 years. Only after the first flowering, the bulbs will grow and get stronger to such an extent that they can be planted in open ground.
Wintering and planting corms
Although many sources claim that acidacea can winter in the open ground, it is better to dig bulbs in the middle lane and northern regions for the winter. When the flowers fade, the peduncles are cut off completely, and the leaves are left until late autumn. This will help the bulbs build up mass and prepare for wintering.
At the first frosts, corms are dug up and transferred to a room with an air temperature of + 18 ° C. Here, the specimens cleared of the earth dry out. After 3-4 weeks, they are folded into paper or fabric bags and stored at a temperature of + 10 ... + 15 ° C.
Pot acid aciders can hibernate directly in the ground. It is important to completely stop watering and transfer the container to a dark and cool place.
In spring, the bulbs are removed from the bags and carefully inspected. All dried and damaged plants should be removed, as well as part of the dry shells removed. They are kept at room temperature for 2–3 days. The day before planting, the plants are etched in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Landing is done immediately in open ground. This is best done in the last decade of May. So that the sudden cold snap does not ruin the acidanthera, it is deepened by 10-12 cm, positioning strictly vertically. The distance between plants should be 15-20 cm.
For earlier flowering, distillation can be carried out. From the first decade of March, corms are planted in a flowerpot with loose garden soil to a depth of 3-4 cm. They are germinated in a bright, warm room and regularly watered. By May, the plant will grow strong enough and form shoots, so flowering will begin earlier and will be more plentiful.
Care Features
For successful cultivation of acidants, it is important to choose the right place. It should be calm and sunny. The soil needs fertile, with a slightly acid reaction. It is important that the soil is loose, with good aeration. Heavy clay soils should be mixed with sand. Even before planting, the site is dug up and organic and mineral dressings are added. To air freely penetrated the rhizome, it is recommended to periodically weed the ground near the flowers. Mulching the top layer with peat and humus also helps.
Acidanthera needs regular watering, it does not tolerate even short-term drought. However, stagnation of water in the earth is even worse for her, as it leads to rotting of the bulbs. From May to September, a complex of mineral fertilizers for flowers is added to water for irrigation twice a month. If the summer turned out to be wet and there is no need for watering, you can evenly pour out the powder on the soil surface.
After flowering is complete, cut flower stalks and part of the foliage. Without this procedure, the acidifier will not have time to prepare the corms for wintering.
With proper care, the plant does not suffer from diseases. If the acidantra grows in a damp, cool place, it can suffer from powdery mildew, rust and root rot. The plant is regularly attacked by slugs and snails. In dry weather, aphids, thrips and spider mites join them. Insects are treated with insecticides, slugs are collected manually.
Using
Charming acidanthera can be used in a lush flower garden or in a group planting in the middle of the lawn. Large and unusual flowers will attract passers-by and will please the owners of the site. With the help of acidants, you can arrange a rock garden or the banks of artificial ponds. Flowers are good not only in the garden, but also in flowerpots.
The plant is widely used as an indoor flower. It should be noted that in a small room the smell can be too intense, so during flowering it is better to put flowerpots on a balcony or veranda. The acidantra also behaves well in cut. Each peduncle carries several buds that open gradually. The bouquet will stand in a vase for at least a week.
